How Medical Marijuana Helps with Arthritis

Published
04/05/2022

If you suffer from arthritis, you can easily obtain a card for medical marijuana online and begin to experience a reduction in that pain right away. There are people who have sought medical marijuana to relieve their pain, primarily because other people are stating how effective and safe this alternative solution is for arthritis.

Many of the symptoms of arthritis can be reduced, helping people that suffer from this condition feel less pain by simply using medical marijuana.

In medical cannabis, there are chemical components that will reduce pain levels and decrease inflammation. Clinical trials, as well as a multitude of studies, have conclusively shown that medical marijuana can help people who suffer from arthritis every day.

 

How Many Individuals Use MMJ To Help With Their Arthritis?

Arthritis can affect the joints of your body. It is a medical condition that can cause degeneration and inflammation. When you have arthritis in your joints, you are going to feel pain.

Most of the people who suffer from this condition are adults. About 23% of people in the United States who are adults have arthritis, and nearly 25% of them have severe joint pain.

The Arthritis Foundation has recently reported that a recent poll revealed nearly 80% of the people taking the poll were using medical marijuana or had used it before.

Nearly 60% of people with arthritis have tried medical marijuana, and about 90% said that it was beneficial.

How Cannabis Can Help Arthritis 

Arthritis often leads to long-term pain, and medical marijuana can help relieve that pain effectively. Cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are the two main cannabinoids that are so beneficial for those who suffer from arthritis.

Both of them have been shown to reduce inflammation and pain levels for people with chronic arthritis. CBD and THC connect with your endocannabinoid system in order to reduce swelling and relieve pain.

THC is primarily beneficial in that it reduces pain in a similar way to ibuprofen when it is taken regularly. 

CBD can reduce inflammation and can also interact with your pain neurons, preventing them from firing and causing you pain.

These cannabinoids can also prevent inflammation, nerve damage and prevent pain from happening

How To Use Medical Marijuana For Arthritis

When using medical marijuana correctly under the guidance of a licensed medical cannabis doctor, there are absolutely no safety concerns.

It has actually been used as a treatment plan for those who suffer from arthritis in the following ways:

  • Edibles
  • Tinctures and sprays
  • Topicals
  • Transdermal patches
  • Vaporizer
  • Inhalation
  • Fresh cannabis
  • Sublingual drops
  • Suppositories

There are many dispensaries in different states where medical marijuana has been legalized. It is important to only use a proper medical marijuana product if you truly want your symptoms of arthritis to get better.

You will need to initially speak with a doctor who is licensed to provide cannabis as they will know how to help you make the right decisions when selecting medical cannabis products.

Best Traditional Treatments For Arthritis

Arthritis patients tend to use more standard treatments to treat their arthritis which will include opioids and anti-inflammatory medications which are nonsteroidal. 

There are also other types of medications they may take which include:

  • Biological response modifiers
  • Corticosteroids
  • Counterirritants
  • Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs)
  • Painkillers

Undergoing therapy for arthritis pain is another option that many people who suffer from arthritis have gone through. 

There are also more invasive and aggressive approaches which include joint fusion, joint replacement and joint repair.

Others may have used alternative approaches such as using cold packs along with heat, exercise, weight loss options, and they have also utilized assistive devices that can reduce the pain they are feeling.

Using Medical Marijuana As Another Method of Treating Arthritis

Although it is an alternative medication, medical marijuana is a fantastic way of managing arthritis symptoms. Many arthritis patients swear by its pain-relieving capabilities and how it is also an anti-inflammatory medicine.

When used for arthritis, it can also assist in other ways such as providing a sense of well-being, help you sleep and also improve physical function.

The Benefits of Medical Cannabis for Arthritis

It is the safety factor that many people who use medical marijuana find so beneficial when they take it for arthritis. You really cannot overdose on marijuana, plus it is not as addictive as other drugs like opiates. 

Using opiates can be dangerous, if not lethal, especially because some of them affect your respiratory system, and can lead to a life of dependence upon this product when taken for extended periods of time. These side effects are not in common with medical marijuana.

Can Medical Marijuana Help Treat Or Eliminate Arthritis Symptoms?

Yes. Medical marijuana is well-known for its pain-relieving capabilities. It can alleviate pain, and that is one of the primary reasons why people have chosen this as an alternative medication.

The Journal of Neuroimmunology reported as early as 2005 that inflammatory diseases, such as arthritis, could benefit from the cannabinoids that are found in medical marijuana.

Northwell Phelps Hospital's director in New York, who is head of the Pain Management Center, stated that, "Using cannabis can lead to the replacement of opiate medication for those that use opiates for pain control." The main reason that this is possible is because cannabinoids can also interact with other pathways in the body.

Of course, no cure for arthritis has been discovered, yet managing the symptoms of arthritis can certainly occur when using medical marijuana.

If you would like to apply for a medical marijuana card, you can do so plus speak with a medical marijuana physician on the web today.